Jazz News

Guy Peellaert Belgian Pop Artist Worked with Rock Stars Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
November 23, 2008

Belgian painter, graphic designer, photographer and pop artist Guy Peellaert, whose surreal pictures for the 1972 cult book Rock Dreams brought him worldwide attention and led him to design album covers for the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, died at 74 Monday in Paris after a long illness.

Rock Dreams was a fantasy tribute to rock 'n' roll that placed various major rock stars in dreamlike situations intended to reflect their music and public images. With 116 flashy pictures by ...

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Vatican Forgives Lennon's Controversial Jesus Slam

Source: All About Jazz
November 23, 2008

Better late than never. The Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano finally forgave John Lennon's infamous 1966 claim that his band was “more popular than Jesus."

And, yea, it was all good.

In a curious twist, the way-past-due change of heart and mind came on the 40th anniversary of The White Album's 1968 release. Look Vatican, we don't want to tell you how to do your job, but you might have wanted to forgive Lennon's statement in 2007, the 40th anniversary ...

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"Up the Turret Mil" out Now on Loyal Label

Source: All About Jazz
November 23, 2008

On his first solo recording, Rich Johnson explores a mix of trumpets, guitars, and pianos with laptop glitch, sampling, and musique concrète. Many of the songs began as experiments with laptop and electronic-acoustic treatments on the trumpet, and bridge Johnson’s many influences – from free jazz to folk music. Based in NYC, Johnson was part of the Sept 2008 Festival of New Trumpet Music, has toured in the US and China, and has performed at some of NYC's best music ...

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Gary Calamar Music Man Sets the Mood

Source: Michael Ricci
November 23, 2008

Every intense music fan presumes he or she has what it takes to be a TV or film music supervisor, and they have a box of clattering mix tapes from high school to prove it. Yes, it was clever how you started with “Please Come Home Baby" by Tom Waits and finished with Mel Torm's “Comin' Home Baby," but there's more to the job than making “High Fidelity" lists.

Or is there?

Meet Gary Calamar, a man whose ...

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The Gustavo Dudamel Whirlwind Arrives Early in L.A.

Source: Michael Ricci
November 23, 2008

The exuberant young Venezuelan conductor, who will take over the L.A. Philharmonic next year, comes to town riding a wave of Dudamania. Reporting from Caracas, Venezuela -- The new global poster boy for classical music and his wife are salsa-stepping across the ballroom of the Alba Hotel. Calm, precise and seemingly always sure of their next move, Gustavo Dudamel and Eloisa Maturen grin at each other and the dozens of other couples around them as they execute perfect ...

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Charlie O's Charles Ottaviano Famed Nightclub Owner Passes

Source: Michael Ricci
November 22, 2008

Charles Ottaviano, 66, whose intimate Van Nuys nightclub Charlie Os developed a loyal following of jazz enthusiasts, died of a heart attack Monday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, said his wife of 26 years, Jo-Ann. He lived in Granada Hills.

I always wanted to have a jazz room, ever since I moved out here from Buffalo [N.Y.] in 1960. My father was a musician, and I started to play when I was very young. Charles Ottaviano He said ...

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New Orleans' Basin Street Signs Jeremy Davenport

Source: All About Jazz
November 22, 2008

Basin Street Records President Mark Samuels has announced that the recording label signed an exclusive recording agreement with trumpeter/vocalist/composer Jeremy Davenport. The first recording of this two-record deal is scheduled to begin next month with a proposed spring 2009 release date.

Davenport's discography includes the eponymous Jeremy DavenportMaybe In A Dream (Telarc) in 1998. He was also featured on the soundtrack to the Luke Perry film Life Breath, and on the RCA Victor compilation The Only Jazz Album You'll Ever ...

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Will American Music Awards Win the Youth Vote?

Source: Michael Ricci
November 22, 2008

The AMAs Sunday must try to appeal to audiences accustomed to creating new stars, not honoring old ones.

At rehearsals this week for the 36th Annual American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre, one of the key executives for the show gushed that Sunday night's broadcast will have 19 performances, a record number: “We called everyone on our dream list and they all said 'Yes,' so we just had to make room!" That effusive appraisal was met with a smile ...

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